The application from Bovis and Persimmon to build 433 homes, a primary school to replace Bearwood, and a new road from King Street Lane to Lower Earley Way is finally going before the Borough Council Planning Committee on 19th October, after being worked on for 5 years.

I know  a lot of people are interested in the outcome of this application.  There are widespread concerns about flood risk.  The part of the site nearest to Lower Earley Way is subject to flooding from the Loddon.  The main reason for the long delay in making a decision on the application has been that a lot of work has had to be done to demonstrate to the Environment Agency that the development won’t make that existing flooding worse.  The Environment Agency has said it is satisfied.  In Planning, it’s the EA’s view that counts.  So that means that it is very difficult for anyone to argue that development should not be allowed because of the flood risk.

My main concern is the road.  It is due to run from King Street Lane near the motorway bridge, to Lower Earley Way, coming out between the bridge over the Loddon and Mill Lane.  That is, it will be half the Winnersh relief road – the full length would take it across King Street Lane down Longdon Road and then push through onto Reading Road by the motorway bridge at Winnersh Farm.   The other half of the road is not being put forward at the same time.  Nor do we know when it will be.  I can foresee chaos on King Street Lane.

This is an outline application, which means it is only to establish the principle of development with regard to the houses, although it will give the detail of the road design.    The number of houses proposed originally was 600.   This has been reduced to 433 because no development will be allowed on the area that may flood.    No details on the design or layout of the houses is under discussion at this stage. 

The application is being recommended for approval.  I am going to the meeting to speak against it.  It is going to be a hard battle to fight against the development going ahead.  The council agreed a number of years ago that the land was suitable for development, and has included the Winnersh relief road in its list of required schemes.   There is no point in pretending we can make it go away.  Even if we were to defeat it this time, the likelihood is that it will come back.

The meeting starts at 7 pm and is held at the council offices in Shute End, Wokingham.  Members of the public are welcome to attend.

If you have any questions about the meeting, or want to know more about the detail of the application, please get in touch.

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